Jehovah Witness RNs

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Ok, here I am waving my big "look at me" flag, hopefully not painting a giant target on myself..... :uhoh21:

Im looking for any RNs who are Jehovah's Witnesses. I am one (yes, active), and I have recently come across a work related issue that I have a question about. If anyone reading this is an active JW, please contact me (see email address on profile page) if you are comfortable talking. Thanks!

That is exactly right. However, this is a nursing board and the topic should be the practice of nursing as it intersects with the religion. This is not the place to air your personal issues and bitterness as it disrespects your fellow nurses and others who post here. I am sure there are other places you can go for that. Thanks for understanding........

Thank you, Sharon. I'm starting to feel a bit beat up on here.

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Specializes in Peds, OB-GYN, CCU, ER, Corrections.

I work in a Women's and Children's unit that consists of L&D, Newborn nursery, pediatrics and postpartum. I work in all of the above areas, so I tend to take care of a lot of the babies on the peds end a few days, weeks or months after I take care of the mothers in L&D or postpartum. Such was the case with a JW mother I cared for, who was very adamant and open about her religion. She "witnessed" to me on several occasions in the two days I cared for her. She also refused RhoGam as it is a blood product, even though we openly discussed the threat to her next pregnancy should she refuse it. 9 days later, I came in to see her standing on the peds end crying next to an empty corificeat. Then I saw the transport team, and I new something horrible had occured. Her 9 day old baby was dying of DIC, but she refused to allow us to give the baby blood. That poor little baby was bleeding out from every orifice of it's body. It was awful. I understand raising your child in your faith. I will do the same to my children. But that baby was 9 days old and there was no gaurantee of what religion that child would choose to be. But that baby never had a chance to make that choice. We shipped the baby to a higher acuity facility and they got a court order to give her blood, but she died before they could. It's hard to comfort those mothers and not to be judgemental. I think that experience will haunt me for the rest of my life.

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Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.
I work in a Women's and Children's unit that consists of L&D, Newborn nursery, pediatrics and postpartum. I work in all of the above areas, so I tend to take care of a lot of the babies on the peds end a few days, weeks or months after I take care of the mothers in L&D or postpartum. Such was the case with a JW mother I cared for, who was very adamant and open about her religion. She "witnessed" to me on several occasions in the two days I cared for her. She also refused RhoGam as it is a blood product, even though we openly discussed the threat to her next pregnancy should she refuse it. 9 days later, I came in to see her standing on the peds end crying next to an empty corificeat. Then I saw the transport team, and I new something horrible had occured. Her 9 day old baby was dying of DIC, but she refused to allow us to give the baby blood. That poor little baby was bleeding out from every orifice of it's body. It was awful. I understand raising your child in your faith. I will do the same to my children. But that baby was 9 days old and there was no gaurantee of what religion that child would choose to be. But that baby never had a chance to make that choice. We shipped the baby to a higher acuity facility and they got a court order to give her blood, but she died before they could. It's hard to comfort those mothers and not to be judgemental. I think that experience will haunt me for the rest of my life.

I can understand and accept the mother's religious beliefs. What I have a problem with is the nine days your hospital waited and did nothing. I once had to file, in Kings County, New York for a Guardian Ad Litum to be appointed to a newborn whose parents were practicing JW. We acted the same day that it was determine the baby needed a transfusion. The court acted within twenty-four hours, appointing a Guardian. He signed for the transfusion. And remaind in his position until the baby was discharged from our facility. Court systems realize the life and death situation and do not delay acting. Sorry but your hospital was at fault.

Woody

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Specializes in Peds, OB-GYN, CCU, ER, Corrections.

No, my hospital was not at fault. The mother brought the child back in that night, nine days later. We didn't wait 9 days to do anything. The child was released with no symptoms two days after birth. It was actually one week later that the mother brought the child in. Sorry if I didn't make that clear in the first post.

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No, my hospital was not at fault. The mother brought the child back in that night, nine days later. We didn't wait 9 days to do anything. The child was released with no symptoms two days after birth. It was actually one week later that the mother brought the child in. Sorry if I didn't make that clear in the first post.

This has nothing to do with the OP.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

We as nurses must remember that there are many religions around the world and should respect each religion. Can we remember when posting on here not to flame others because of their beliefs, this is a good time to learn how others feel on their religions which in turn can be used when nursing patients.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

I second Dragon's post. Please keep it respectful here. This thread was not started to beat up on JW or any other religion. It was begun on a premise of gaining understanding. Keep that in mind before you hit the "post reply" button on your screen or just refrain from this thread, if need be. Thank you.

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

http://www.religioustolerance.org

for insightful information you may enjoy.

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Specializes in icu, er, transplant, case management, ps.
No, my hospital was not at fault. The mother brought the child back in that night, nine days later. We didn't wait 9 days to do anything. The child was released with no symptoms two days after birth. It was actually one week later that the mother brought the child in. Sorry if I didn't make that clear in the first post.

You didn't make that clear. But when I was in hospital administration I took call once a week. I had to be available during the sixteen hours of call. Such a situation would have been brought to my attention immediately. And I would have taken action immediately, including involving the court. Regardless of how small or how large your county is, there is always a Judge on call for such situations. Unless the baby appeared at your door and arrested, there was time to take action. I am second guessing but it is a situation that comes up in hospitals. And there are steps that can be taken immediately.

Woody:balloons:

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Geriatrics.
It's hard to comfort those mothers and not to be judgemental. I think that experience will haunt me for the rest of my life.[/QUO

What would be tremendously helpful to you would be if you exercised some empathy. I'm serious. Trying to understand how the mother might have felt and imagining some of the doubts that she no doubt felt as well as the grief that you observed her expressing might help you since you are "haunted", after all she is the one who lost her baby.

Then if you still feel judgemental, think about all the parents who lost their babies after they contracted HIV, Hepatits or CMV from blood transfusions. Do you blame them for their blind belief in the higher power of medical science? No, of course not.

Finally, consider this: the medical community has researched and developed new technology to decrease the need for blood transfusions as a direct result of the medical community trying to find alternative methods for treating Jehovah's Witnesses. How many lives have been saved or improved because of this?

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It's hard to comfort those mothers and not to be judgemental. I think that experience will haunt me for the rest of my life.[/QUO

What would be tremendously helpful to you would be if you exercised some empathy. I'm serious. Trying to understand how the mother might have felt and imagining some of the doubts that she no doubt felt as well as the grief that you observed her expressing might help you since you are "haunted", after all she is the one who lost her baby.

Then if you still feel judgemental, think about all the parents who lost their babies after they contracted HIV, Hepatits or CMV from blood transfusions. Do you blame them for their blind belief in the higher power of medical science? No, of course not.

Finally, consider this: the medical community has researched and developed new technology to decrease the need for blood transfusions as a direct result of the medical community trying to find alternative methods for treating Jehovah's Witnesses. How many lives have been saved or improved because of this?

Thank you, Sharon, for consistently injecting reason into this thread. I'm not sure why the thread remains open since it is so far off the OP and the OP hadn't returned (would you blame her?). I appreciate your comments, in any case.

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Specializes in LTC, Med/Surg, Peds, ICU, Tele.
It's hard to comfort those mothers and not to be judgemental. I think that experience will haunt me for the rest of my life.[/QUO

What would be tremendously helpful to you would be if you exercised some empathy. I'm serious. Trying to understand how the mother might have felt and imagining some of the doubts that she no doubt felt as well as the grief that you observed her expressing might help you since you are "haunted", after all she is the one who lost her baby.

Then if you still feel judgemental, think about all the parents who lost their babies after they contracted HIV, Hepatits or CMV from blood transfusions. Do you blame them for their blind belief in the higher power of medical science? No, of course not.

Finally, consider this: the medical community has researched and developed new technology to decrease the need for blood transfusions as a direct result of the medical community trying to find alternative methods for treating Jehovah's Witnesses. How many lives have been saved or improved because of this?

Very well said, I couldn't agree more. There are no guarantees in life, and most people take some sort of risks that could lead to a personal disaster. You can make the same judgement about a person who climbs mountains, or someone who watches too much TV and gets fat.

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